Thursday, October 2, 2008

Addison Mizner and Johnnie Brown

Originally Posted 10/02/08 The Man Who Made Palm Beach ,'PALM BEACH '

Addison Mizner said:“if you can’t find it, make it,” as he launched into the building business. ( click on pics to read more )

Addison Cairns Mizner : born in 1872 in Benicia, California, to a wealthy. He was the second youngest of seven children. In 1889 "papa" Mizner was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister to Central America and took the family to live in Guatemala City.
The impact Guatemala had on Mizner cannot be overstated. Mizner was captivated by the Spanish architecture. Mizner went on to study in Spain, traveled to the Far East, Australia, and lived for a few years in Hawaii. Mizner trained as an architect and worked as a draftsman in California for Willis Polk, the leader of the Spanish "mission" style of design.Mizner established an office on Park Avenue and earned the reputation as an architect of the affluent. He devoted himself to his career until the end.

( with his beloved monkey Johnnie Brown , this is why monkeys are so big in Palm Beach)

Addison Mizner, would settle for no less than excellence. He was personally involved with the interior design of his homes as well. He travelled to Spain to obtain the special materials he needed to produce his magnificent work.

His pet monkey Johnnie Brown is buried in Via Mizner off Worth Avenue in a small garden. This is his head-stone. I love that, it is so sweet. This should explain where the complete craze in Palm Beach for Monkeys comes from.

Crazy for Monkeys !!!!!There is not a Palm Beach Interior that would be considered complete without a MONKEY SOMEWHERE!!!

It is considered beyond prestigious to have a bronze Historical Landmark on your original Addison Mizner home.

This is an original tile design of Mizner's made by his company. This is an actual tile from The BocaRaton Resort.

Signature Mizner Style at the BocaRaton Resort

Sadly, Addison Mizner died broke.

Click on pic to read more

info and pics from B.R. Hist Society, and Sun Sentinel

Renee Finberg'TELLS ALL' in her blog of her Adventures in Design.......

1 comment:

In case anyone is interested, Renee we can reproduce Mizner tile designs, authentically- using the same historical techniques for glaze and application as the beautiful one shown. I wish more architects and designers would design original tiles, like Mizner and Julia Morgan (Hearst Castle) had done. We invite you to do so.